Ideas for the gardener on your Christmas list

By: 
Rob Zimmer

It’s time to start thinking about gift ideas for gardeners and nature lovers on your shopping list this year. Anyone who loves gardening will enjoy a thoughtful, carefully chosen garden or nature themed token of your friendship, love and appreciation. Gardeners take their hobbies seriously and are often passionate, as well, about birds, wildlife, weather and many other related themes.

Need some ideas for the gardener on your Christmas list? Here are some of my suggestions for fun, thoughtful and enjoyable gardening gifts.

Since many who enjoy gardening do so to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and songbirds to their backyard and landscape, gift suggestions that fit those themes are always wonderful surprises. A gardener can never have too many bird feeders, bird houses, binoculars, bird and butterfly identification guides, bird feeding supplies, hummingbird feeders, as well as any garden art that features wildlife and wildflowers.

During the winter season, gardeners are often seeking projects and crafts that keep the hobby alive, even during the off-season. Thankfully, there really is no off-season if you’re a gardener. One of my favorite gift ideas is the gift of house plants, tropical foliage, indoor succulents, cacti and other plants that thrive indoors, even when the snow and cold arrive with winter.

Indoor gardening is an exciting hobby and there are many great ways you can share the joys of growing indoors with the gardener on your list. Many greenhouses and florists offer an assortment of house plants, as well as beautiful containers and pottery.

House plants are especially popular now among young adults and men, bringing a whole new popularity to classic house plant varieties, as well as new, colorful, exciting hybrids that continue to tempt and tantalize plant lovers.

Orchids are a great gift suggestion and, contrary to what many people think, are actually quite simple to grow, depending on the variety.

Even the gift of a book all about houseplants and indoor foliage plants is a great way to instill a love of indoor gardening to those on your list.

Many gardeners appreciate the gift of quality garden tools, gardening gloves, outdoor pottery, potting soil and everything else needed to create a beautiful garden. Create a gardening gift basket by assembling an assortment of tools, books, seeds, soils and other items into a decorative planter, wheelbarrow or bushel basket for a fun and enjoyable gardening gift.

For gardeners who grow edible plants, collect recipes from friends and family for unique and fun ways to use backyard produce, fruits and vegetables that go beyond the bland and boring. There are many great books out there that instruct gardeners how to prepare, can and preserve their precious crops.

Another great gift idea for gardeners is a mushroom growing kit. These kits are often available at stores and garden centers during the Christmas season and are a unique and wonderful gift for gardeners who can grow mushrooms right inside their home in a cool basement or closet. These are fun, especially for kids, as well as adults who enjoy tasty, healthy and delicious mushrooms.

I’ll have even more great garden gift ideas next time!

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